[OneWingedShark]

Because sitting this election out, or voting for a 3rd party candidate, is anything but clearheaded. The reality is that either of those actions is a vote for Obama. So quit hiding behind that "conscience" excuse.

Hm, what sort of a person would rally against voting on one's conscience? What does it say about the cause that you are trying to promote?
It is my estimation that those who say "quit hiding behind conscience" are themselves being condemned by their own conscience -- sin always likes the excuse of "everybody else does it."

But let's take a look at what you're saying:
First, you say that any 3rd party vote is a vote for Obama, thereby implying that on 3rd party vote is either valid nor valuable.
Second, your assertion that they're all votes for Obama is implicitive that only the other main-party candidate is both viable and different... but is it the case that the Republican Party is actually different from the Democrat party; let's look at its reputation, stated planks and the near abysmal failure of the party to pursue them:

1. Gun rights; the Republican party has a reputation of being "pro-second amendment" -- yet what have they done to even attempt repeal of the GCA or NFA which are blatant violations thereof -- no they get points for literally doing nothing and letting the sunset-clause of the Assault Weapons Ban take effect.
2. Abortion; since the mid-eighties the Republican party has stated that it wants to overturn Roe v. Wade, yet it has consistently done nothing on this issue. (The one exception I'm aware of is the partial birth abortion ban; this is an anomalous event though, not some incremental approach.)
   • Also note how the 2012 convention added a no exception [to the cases of rape and incest and health of the mother] clause to the platform...
   • and promptly nominated someone who says "of course I support exceptions for rape and incest." [link]
   • Note also that [societally] these exceptions are insidious the "rape and incest" exceptions leverage emotional response against outlawing abortion, while "health of the mother" is meant [in practice] to be at will.
3. Fiscal Responsibility; why don't we have budgets proposed which actually pay off our national debt?
4. Government accountability; one phrase typifies and painfully illustrates the Republican acceptance and aid of government wrongdoing: Fast & Furious.
5. The Bill of Rights; yet the War on Drugs has been the single most destructive collection of policies [WRT the Bill of Rights] in the nation's history -- just look at the state of the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th, amendments -- and this is all based on a grotesque reading of the commerce clause.
   • 4th -- the actual requirement that warrants be obtained upon 'probable cause' has now been altered such that 'probable cause' is an exception for requiring a warrant; further, the commonality of "no knock" raids shows that 'unreasonable' is not a factor in SWAT usage and given the regularity of "wrong house" leads us to...
   • 5th -- the SWAT can kill and maim people in their no knock raids with little, if any, repercussion...
   • 6th -- the jury is automatically tainted if drugs can be said to be involved.
   • 8th -- the prison sentences are vastly out of proportion to the actual [convicting] crime committed.
6. Small[er] Government; when was the last time a Republican pushed for the wholesale dissolution of a [major] government agency? I know Reagan wanted to get rid of the Dept of Education, but that's before my time.

So, I think it can be safely stated that the Republican party is all talk and little to no action.
Why then should I vote for a candidate of the Republican Party based on his membership thereof?

I should not, and that leaves only the candidate himself to earn my vote.
So, why should I vote for Romney? He's pro-abortion, even if you accept his "conversion to 'pro-life'"*.
Why should I vote for Romney? He's a Fabian Socialist, I don't want to vote for Socialists.
Why should I vote for Romney? He's a Statist, there's nothing I've herd him say "that's not the government's job" on.
Why should I vote for Romney? He's got a reputation for talking through both sides of his mouth. Why should I vote for Romney? He's got no solid values. Why should I vote for Romney? He's done nothing to inspire confidence he'll be better than Obama.

* -- In that he accepts exceptions which are the killing of the child for the sin of the parent.

[Robert DeLong]

Why should I vote Romney? He is not Obama.

Why should I vote Romney? He won't try and destroy the country.

Why should I vote Romney? Because America cannot survive another 4 years of Obama.

Why should I vote Romney? Because America cannot tolerate more debt.

Why should I vote Romney? Because a vote for a 3rd party candidate is a vote for Obama.

Why should I vote Romney? Because he won't surround himself with marxist/communists.

Why should I vote Romney? Because Romney won't try to subvert Congress.

Why should I vote Romney? To repeal Obamacare.

Why should I vote Romney? Because Obama will find a way to make himself dictator.

Why should I vote Romney? For our brave military men & women.

Why should I vote Romney? Because it will be easier to hold Romney's feet to the fire.

Why should I vote Romney? Supreme Court appointees that move the Supreme Court to a more conservative majority, not a more liberal one.

Why should I vote Romney? There is no other choice. Obama is terrible and the rest have no chance of winning.

If you are wondering about me, I'll tell you about me. First, Robert DeLong is my real name. I hide from no one. Secondly, I am a 60 y.o. conservative, both fiscal and social. Thirdly, I realize the enormity of this election and the real dire consequences of Obama getting another 4 years. Four years that will totally descimate this country. I am totally willing to put the lesser of 2 evils in and then staying engaged to see what evil he may do, if any. I know what evil Obama will do. So yes, better the devil I don't know then the devil I do. I don't look for Romney to be the complete perfect human being. Just like Reagan made mistakes I expect Romney to make mistakes. By mistakes I mean do some thing(s) I disagree with. Fourthly, I am a God fearing man, and my conscience says that I am voting for the best possible candidate.

Instead of looking what Republicans haven't done, look at what Democrats have done. You will see that they are the ones that have gotten us to this point. Not that Republicans are blameless. because they are. Had Reagan been given a majority in both Houses of Congress then I believe he would have made some progress. Often times I honestly believe that Republicans do what they do because they are trying to solve the problem, but the real problem is their thinking that government can solve the problem. Democrats on the other hand do what they do to solidify their power. Evil you know whats, every last one of them.